The University daily. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 18??-????, 1887-06-10
Oh lara TIlR SEETe III \.
Prominent University Men HE'ieil
Lires, Gharaet ef'istics
and Works.
Sketch of the Life of BYt. Capt. II. r.
Pierce, 2. Is.
DE. John d. Thompson.

| versity, Dr. John r. Thompson. now
LOT WASHING ton1 Square NJ. E.schurh,
i New York Cittg was born il Carroll
county, Ohio, March ia, 1852. He
gave early promise ofIoratoricaI abil-
] ity. being, AT the ageof ve,chosen
/ to deliver q patriotic defamation at
d rneetiIg where menof prominence
were tie orators.
Dr. ThoMpson was grad uated from
M Union College in 1871, and en-
lsteyed the ministry ia the Pittsburg
/ Conference Of the M 3. church, and
/ Immediately one recognition as an
fableIand earnest pulpit orator. In
/ March, 1873, he married Mary VI,
daughter Of Rev. VIM. Cox. d. D., Of
the Pittsburg Conference. Soon
after be was called I'd occupy the
| pulpit III Chapline Street Church,
Wheeling, W. Va, whence in 1876, he
was transferred. "a.
/ In these two charges Mr.. Thomp-
son gained such reputation for ear
! nest thought, energy, and oratory,
that entirely unsolicited BY him, the
Board Of Regents in January 1877,
elected him President Of the Univer-
sity. Since Dr.. Martins retirement,
in 1875, the University had been
without President, and the attend
ance had rapidly fallen off to fewer
than fifty pupils. s.. .s1.
1 On a rainy Friday night when the
societies we're in session a telegram
from Wheeling announced Mr.
| Thompson's election. There was
general rejoicing among the students
and the writer and John T.. Steele,
now Of Baltimore, were chosen to
head TIE entire body of students,
and march in the rain to the NJ. E.
parsonage to tender prompt congrat
u1ations. This called forth such a
brilliant response, as few men could
equal, but such as we heard many
time thereafter. 49, #.*.....#3 u ~: =
The youngest college president in
the world, with personal appearance
| (stature against him, with the school
at it's lowest ebb, Mr.. Thompson faced
a most uphill task, but his energy,
indomitable will, magnificent powers
of persuasion, and constant, intense
labor overcame every obstacle. 4.
He travelled over the State ad-
dressing the people at picnics, in the
pulpit, at educational meetings
! wherever an audience could be cot
ten together, and the consequence
was that in two years the Univer-
sity enrolled III students instead of
/ fifty. But no man Of Mr. Thomp-
sons impulsive disposition or radi-
cal views and fearless speech could
| long be prominent in this State with
out running counter to the deep:
rooted conservatism, popularity
known as Bourbonism and mossback-
/ ism in this State, and every effort
1 was by this class, even by his asso;
ciates III labor, to disparage his eff
forts. His pronounced views and
vigorous blows against the liquor
traffic Srroused the ire, and even
ion one occasion excited the pugilis-
/ tic propensities of the MorgantoWn
| liquor dealers. n. n I. II.
! No man Of Mr.. Thompson's i'm
| pulsiye disposition can avoid mis-.
takes, but, Notwithstanding his mis-
takes, at no time in the history of
the University was its prosperity SO
rapidly enhanced, until the present
administration, as under the vigor-
GUS and mastery management of
| him whom the boys called, but not
derisively, aLittle Jacky,''
"Little Jacky'' was a veritables
| Little Corporal in the confidence
and admiration he inspired in the
| students under him. His dignity
needed no bolstering in order that.
his authority be respected.
i As All orator Mr.. Thompson was
second TO none our State has ever
lboasted; as q student, his industry,
despite his ill-health, was unremit-
ting; as thinker he was alert, log
icaI, progressive; as 9 teacher he
was enthusiastic, inspiring.
His departure was regretted by
all the best people Of Morgantown,
by all friends of the University and
| BY the students. a farewell ban
quet was rendered him by the gen
/ tlemen Of the town and University
and fine gold watch presented to
him by the students.
From the University Mr.. Thomp
4 son went, f,n Jersey CitvI from there In